Satellite Reliability & Space Safety Engineer (all genders)

Job description

Join the next generation of satellite development in Germany! At Reflex Aerospace we develop high-performance satellites with a strong focus on fast, payload-centric development and increasing vertical integration. As our missions grow more complex and fly for longer, demonstrating that our satellites can reliably complete their missions and meet applicable space-safety requirements is becoming increasingly important. We are looking for an engineer with strong experience in spacecraft reliability, mission lifetime and space-debris compliance who can bring these capabilities into our NewSpace development environment. At Reflex, we combine rigorous engineering practices with the agility and efficiency of NewSpace development. We follow applicable industry standards and regulatory requirements, while promoting practical, solution-oriented approaches that support both mission reliability and efficient development. You will support mission-lifetime assessments and lead technical analyses required to demonstrate compliance with ESA and DLR debris-mitigation and end-of-life requirements. Over time, you will help establish reusable methods, tools and reliability evidence across Reflex missions and internally developed spacecraft products. Your Mission: Reliability, Lifetime & Space Safety Perform debris-mitigation, disposal and end-of-life analyses against ESA, DLR and other applicable requirements. Develop and document compliance justifications, including disposal reliability, passivation, accidental break-up risk, orbital lifetime and re-entry assessments where applicable. Develop reusable analysis methods and workflows using Python, DRAMA, SARA and similar engineering tools. Develop quantitative spacecraft reliability and mission-lifetime assessments to support customer and mission commitments. Assess the reliability of mission-critical and end-of-life functions using supplier data, qualification evidence, degradation analyses, redundancy concepts and flight heritage. Define pragmatic compliance and assurance approaches suitable for NewSpace development, including justified assumptions, tailoring and alternative evidence where appropriate. Define and review reliability, qualification and heritage evidence required from suppliers and internally developed Reflex products. Build reusable models, datasets and methods that can be applied across Reflex missions and products. Systems Engineering Work closely with Mission Systems Engineers and subsystem teams to integrate reliability, lifetime and space-safety considerations into system design. Use outputs from FMEA/FMECA, FTA, FDIR and subsystem analyses as inputs to mission-level reliability and compliance assessments. Support technical trades, verification planning and qualification activities where reliability, lifetime or regulatory compliance are significant drivers. Communicate technical analyses and compliance evidence clearly to customers, suppliers and institutional stakeholders. Your Background: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace, Space Systems, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field. Several years of experience in spacecraft reliability, dependability, mission assurance, space safety or related satellite systems engineering. Hands-on experience with ESA, DLR or comparable institutional debris-mitigation and space-safety requirements. Practical experience performing debris, disposal or end-of-life analyses and producing the corresponding technical justification. Experience with DRAMA, SARA or equivalent space-safety analysis tools. Experience developing or reviewing quantitative spacecraft reliability or mission-lifetime assessments. Good understanding of spacecraft hardware, qualification, degradation mechanisms and redundancy. Good engineering programming skills, particularly Python. Ability to work with incomplete supplier data and develop defensible engineering assumptions, models and conclusions. Familiarity with ECSS dependability, qualification and space-safety standards and a pragmatic approach to applying them in a fast NewSpace environment. Strong written and verbal communication with engineering teams, suppliers and customers. English is our working language; German is an advantage. Experience in one or more of the following is a strong advantage Experience supporting ESA/DLR reviews and closing institutional compliance requirements. Probabilistic reliability modelling, Monte Carlo methods or reliability block diagrams. Radiation reliability or EEE parts assurance. Definition or execution of lifetime, endurance or accelerated test campaigns. Reliability assessment of internally developed spacecraft hardware. Use of qualification results and accumulated flight heritage to improve reliability estimates. Familiarity with FMEA/FMECA, FTA and FDIR methodologies. Tailoring ECSS / ESA assurance processes to NewSpace development. What We Offer: Work directly on complete satellite systems and products, with significant technical ownership from early design through qualification and operations. Help establish engineering capabilities used across multiple Reflex satellite missions and product lines. Work closely with specialists across Systems Engineering, AIT, software, electronics, structures, thermal, AOCS and power. Enjoy 30 days of paid vacation and a special company holiday on April 12th, celebrating the International Day of Human Space Flight and the spirit of exploration. We provide a hybrid work model along with flexible working hours, empowering you as the owner of your time management. An annual training budget of 1.500€. A contribution to your Urban Sports membership as well as a discount on public transportation. A 20% contribution to your private pension plan. Access to Corporate Benefits - a website with many discounts for various brands. We exclusively offer permanent employment contracts, reflecting our commitment to building long-term relationships and supporting sustainable career growth within our organization.